Garment hanger with antislipping surfaces



Dec. 6, 1966 w. ZWANZIG 3,289,901

GARMENT HANGER WITH ANTI-SLIPPING SURFACES Filed Dec. 22, 1965 William Z wanz/g United States Patent 3,289,901 GARMENT HANGER WITH ANTI- SLIPPING SURFACES William Zwanzig, 623 Columbus St, Ottawa, Ill. Filed Dec. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 515,590 3 Claims. (Cl. 223-88) This invention relates to a garment hanger, for example, a generally triangulate or an equivalent open frametype hanger characterized by a horizontal base member commonly designated in the art as a crossbar, upwardly converging diagonal end members, and a balanced suspension hook including a shank which is connected with the converging ends of the aforementioned end members. Coat and garment hangers having component parts such as those above generally described are admittedly old and well known and some are made of moldable plastic material of one grade or another, of a suitable lightweight wood, of metal and other materials, but by and large are made of bendable wire. In reducing to practice the innovation constituting the subject matter of the herein disclosed concept the common or basic components of the over-all triangular or equivalent frame are retained. However, significant garment contacting and suspension surfaces of certain parts are functionally designed and expressly constructed to provide unique anti-slipping means, the latter being preferably present atop the horizontal base member or crossbar and also atop the diagonal or upwardly converging frame members, and optionally, should it be so desired, on the hook and its attaching shank.

While the present invention lends itself to adoption and use on and in conjunction with hangers such as are commonly and resourcefully made from wood, varying plastic materials, sheet metal or the like, it is contemplated, at least in the present disclosure, that it will be utilized as an improvement on extruded conventional-type triangular one-piece wire hangers, where as it customary, the crossbar, diagonal end members and suspension hook (whether stout or thin in cross-section) are cylindrical or circular in cross-section.

Briefly, the horizontal base member or crossbar of the frame (wire, wood, or plasti material) is nominally but structurally modified; that is, the top or upper lengthwise surface is provided with self-contained garment seating displacement-resisting means. This means functions to guard against forward or rearward riding or slippage and serves to reduce the likelihood of displacement of the garment to a significant minimum. However, and as is deemed clear, even with the top surface provided with anti-slipping means, the draped trousers, skirt or the like could shift bodily and slide endwise toward the left hand or right hand end portions of the crossbar. Accordingly, the present concept also is such in scope that the garment surface is provided with additional anti-skid means which unites and combines with the first-named means in a resourceful manner to likewise and efficiently cope with the sidewise or endwise slippage factor. Consequently, and insofar as the crossbar is concerned, trousers, skirts, and the like, loosely draped and hung thereon will usually stay put.

More specifically, the concept has to do with a wire hanger crossbar whose upper or top surface embodies longitudinal grooves localized but distributively arranged in close coacting parallel relation thus defining and providing channel-like recesses or indentations, the latter being bordered by relatively sharp friction-holding antislipping ridges. Then, too, and in addition to the lengthwise groove means, coacting transverse or cross groove means is utilized. To this end, the individual grooves of the last-named means are annular or ring-like and are spaced longitudinally and are disposed at an angle (usually and contribute to the over-all anti-slipping result. More particularly, these surface encircling longitudinal groove intersecting grooves effectually guard against undue bodily shifting of the garment toward either the left or the right of the given centered position of the garment.

Not only is the top garment displacement resisting side of the crossbar specially finished (fluted, ribbed, grooved or correspondingly milled) the upwardly outwardly disposed surfaces of the diagonal end members of the frame are likewise provided with garment (jacket, coat, overcoat, sweater or the like, for example) displacement resisting groove means or the like. It follows that by surface-finishing the significantly localized surfaces of all three component parts or members of the frame, they become effective and increase the available friction surfaces so that conjointly they perform a reliably serviceable garment displacement resisting result.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation showing a one-piece wiretype garment hanger exemplary of the subject matter of the invention and showing, somewhat diagrammatically, the surfaces of the several component parts which are expressly constructed to provide the desired anti-slipping garment displacement resisting result.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing the specially grooved and designed crossbar, that is an end portion thereof, and a fragmentary portion of one of the aforementioned diagonal end frame members also correspondingly surface-finished.

And FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

It is reiterated that the garment hanger which is herein disclosed is comparable with any conventional-type socalled wire hanger. It should be understood, however, that the garment retaining and anti-slipping features constituting the subject matter of the instant invention are capable of being incorporated in any triangular or similar open-frame garment hanger which may be properly said to be characterized by a horizontal base or crossbar and end members cooperable therewith.

With reference now to the views of the drawing and with the aid of reference numerals and lead lines it will be seen that the frame, considered as a structural entity, is denoted very generally by the numeral 6 and, as already stated, is characterized by a frame which is triangular or substantially so in outline or configuration and is characterized by a linearly straight horizontal base member which constitutes the crossbar 8. This crossbar is suitably joined at ends thereof to the upwardly inwardly converging end frame members also referred to as diagonal members 10, both being the same in construction. The upper converging ends of the members 10 are joined with a shank 12 provided at its upper end with the usual suspension hook 14.

It is to be understood that it is within the purview of the concept to surface-finish the crossbar 8 alone or, and this is preferred, to correspondingly surface-finish the diagonal end members 10. This disclosure is therefore directed to the several component parts 8 and 10 singly and collectively and is to be construed accordingly.

Actually while the members 8 and 10 are cylindrical in cross-section, and of suitable cross-sectional dimension in keeping with commercial and manufacturing require- Q ments and each component is the same in cross-section as actually brought out in FIG. 3, it is deemed best to first take up the construction of the crossbar 8. Now, while the entire circumferential surface of this crossbar is provided with longitudinal groove means, the significantly useful groove means is located at the top, which may be regarded as the upper semi-cylindrical half portion in FIG. 3. It is within the purview of the invention to provide one or more longitudinal grooves and preferably a cluster or group of several grooves, the central topmost one of which is denoted at 16 (FIG. 3) and the two companion or complemental grooves to the left and right thereof at 18. These grooves or channels define not only channel-shaped indentations or recesses, the marginal edges thereof conveniently denoted at 20 and paired and parallel and circumferentially spaced, provide relatively sharp or knife-like ridges which conjointly coact in permitting the garment (trousers, skirt or the like) to be draped thereover in the usual way. However, and because of the additional friction surfaces thus obtained, effective resistance against slipping of the garment forwardly or rearwardly is attained. As pointed out it is necessary that the grooving, for example the lengthwise grooving has to be carried out so that there are grooves not only on the top but on the bottom too. For sake of distinction in considering the over-all length of wire which is fashioned into the complete coat hanger the several lengthwise bottom grooves, constituting the groove means, are denoted at 22, this being the central one, and 24, these being to the left and right thereof. Here again, several more or less lengthwise grooves are provided. Also, the grooves define and provide relatively sharp anti-slipping or friction-increasing ridges 26. It follows that when the thus grooved wire or rod stock is bent into triangulate shape, the grooves 16 and 18 come into play insofar as the horizontal cross rod 8 is concerned. When the grooves 22 and 24 and retaining ridges 26 come into play on the upwardly outwardly facing surfaces of the end frame members they are in proper order and relationship to achieve the anti-slipping result desired for a jacket, coat or upper part of a suit.

In addition to the lengthwise grooves and ridges on the crossbar 8 it will be seen that annular grooves 28 are also provided, these being arranged at one inch intervals in regular practice from each other and accordingly being transverse to the longitudinal grooves and in fact at a 90 right angle thereto. Here again these encircling or encompassing ring-like grooves provide opposed ridge-like edges which are denoted at 30 (FIG. 2). Accordingly, the lengthwise grooves 16 and 18 and their ridges 20 plus the cooperating 90 encircling or annular grooves 28 provide the desired grooved anti-slipping means on the crossbar 8. The same applies to the groove means on the diagonal end members 10. The longitudinal grooves on one end member are denoted at 22 and 24 in FIG. 2 and in this situation the encircling or annular grooves are denoted 'at 32 and provide opposed edges or ridges 34 and with the grooves 32 at right angles to the grooves 22 and 24 the desired upwardly outwardly disposed surfaces of the end members are thus satisfactorily constructed.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter of the invention herein disclosed and the attending features and advantages. 'Acgordingly a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those ski ed in e i s not des ed to limi 't e n e ion to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A garment hanger of the class described comprising: a one-piece frame substantially triangular in elevation and comparable in size and character to common rodtype hangers formed from a single length of wire, said frame embodying a horizontal bottom member. circular and solid in cross-sectional dimension and constituting and providing a crossbar adapted to balance and hang trousers, skirts and the like, the upwardly disposed convex garment folding, draping and supporting surface of said crossbar having a plurality of straight parallel individual closely spaced grooves formed in said surface and commensurate in length with the overall length of said crossbar, each groove providing an elongated channellike indentation bordered by relatively sharp lengthwise marginal edges defining and providing a pair of frictiongripping anti-slipping ridges, the thus paired ridges of the respective grooves being expressly designed and adapted to guard against forward or rearward slippage or, alternatively, displacement of the draped and sup ported garment, said supporting surface being further provided with additional self-contained transverse groove means comprising a multiplicity of endless annular grooves circumferentially encircling said crossbar, said annular grooves being disposed at right angles to and intersecting said longitudinal grooves, said annular grooves also being spaced apart longitudinally and the encompassing marginal edges of each groove providing opposed coacting anti-slipping ridges capable of resisting left-to-right slippage of the given position of the supported garment.

2. The hanger according to claim 1 and wherein said longitudinal grooves are circumferentially spaced but confined to the lengthwise convex top surface portion of said crossbar, said annular grooves being spaced apart at predetermined intervals and ranging from one to the other end of said crossbar.

3. The garment according to claim 1, said frame also embodying a pair of upwardly inwardly converging diagonally disposed end members having lower ends joined to the respective left and right end portions of said crossbar and upper ends converging toward and integrally connected to the shank of a supporting hook and adapted to accommodatingly support the shoulder portions of a jacket, coat, sweater or the like, the upwardly outwardly facing lengthwise garment contacting and supporting surfaces of said diagonal end members having anti-slipping groove means formed therein and functioning to reduce the likelihood of slippage of the coat from said end members, said anti-slipping groove means comprising closely spaced parallel longitudinal grooves concentrated but distributively embodied in the upwardly outwardly facing surfaces of said diagonal end members and, in addition, companion annular grooves encircling the respective diagonal members at longitudinally spaced points and intersecting said longitudinal grooves and associatively cooperable with the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,869 3/ 1939 Shafarman 22388 2,563,704 8/1951 Buffin 22388 2,819,829 1/1958 Gensmer et al. 223-98 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. Q KRI MANIQ ss stan E am ner. 

1. A GARMENT HANGER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING: A ONE-PIECE FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR IN ELEVATION AND COMPARABLE IN SIZE AND CHARACTER TO COMMON RODTYPE HANGERS FORMED FROM A SINGLE LENGTH OF WIRE, SAID FRAME EMBODYING A HORIZONTAL BOTTOM MEMBER CIRCULAR AND SOLID IN CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION AND CONSTITUTING AND PROVIDING A CROSSBAR ADAPTED TO BALANCE AND HANG TROUSERS, SKIRTS AND THE LIKE, THE UPWARDLY DISPOSED CONVEX GARMENT FOLDING, DRAPING AND SUPPORTING SURFACE OF SAID CROSSBAR HAVING A PLURALITY OF STRAIGHT PARALLEL INDIVIDUAL CLOSELY SPACED GROOVES FORMED IN SAID SURFACE AND COMMENSURATE IN LENGTH WITH THE OVERALL LENGTH OF SAID CROSSBAR, EACH GROOVE PROVIDING AN ELONGATED CHANNELLIKE INDENTATION BORDERED BY RELATIVELY SHARP LENGTHWISE MARGINAL EDGES DEFINING AND PROVIDIG A PAIR OF FRICTIONGRIPPING ANTI-SLIPPING RIDGES, THE THUS PAIRED RIDGES OF THE RESPECTIVE GROOVES BEING EXPRESSLY DESIGNED AND ADAPTED TO GUARD AGAINST FORWARD OR REARWARD SLIPPAGE OR, ALTERNATIVELY, DISPLACEMENT OF THE DRAPED AND SUPPORTED GARMENT, SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE BEING FURTHER PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL SELF-CONTAINED TRANSVERSE GROOVE MEANS COMPRISING A MULTIPLICITY OF ENDLESS ANNULAR GROOVES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ENCIRCLING SAID CROSSBAR, SAID ANNULAR GROOVES BEING DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO AND INTERSECTING SAID LONGITUDINAL GROOVES, SAID ANNULAR GROOVES ALSO BEING SPACED APRAT LONGITUDINALLY AND THE ENCOMPASSING MARGINAL EDGES OF EACH GROOVE PROVIDING OPPOSED COACTING ANTI-SLIPPING RIDGES CAPABLE OF RESISTING LEFT-TO-RIGHT SLIPPAGE OF THE GIVEN POSITION OF THE SUPPORTED GARMENT. 